Grass-clipping dispute leads to shooting of officer

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The Milwaukee County District Attorney on Wednesday filed homicide charges against a man accused of killing an off-duty Milwaukee community service officer after a neighbor dispute involving grass clippings.

Naeem Sarosh, 35, was shot in the back on Monday after knocking on a neighbor’s door to complain about grass clippings left on his property, according to the criminal complaint. Sarosh had worked with the Milwaukee Police Department as a community service officer, a civilian position that helps with non-emergency calls. He had been with the department for four years.

Mohammed Afzal, who is 65, told the police that he answered the door carrying a pistol and thought that Sarosh also had a gun because he had his hands in his pockets. Afzal fired his weapon to scare Sarosh, who then turned and ran. But Afzal fired again, hitting him with a bullet that killed him, according to investigators.

The criminal complaint said Afzal told investigators that “after shooting the victim, he went inside, put his gun away, and changed clothes because he knew the police would be coming for him.”

Afzal is charged with First Degree Reckless Homicide. If found guilty, he could face up to 65 years in prison.